Tis the Season to be Changing,
Fa la la la, la la la!
Tried and True and New Ideas on Facilitating Organizational Change
By Mona M. Melanson, SPHR
Click here to hear the short podcast interview of Bonnie Burn, panel moderator and CEO of DISC Provider talking with Mona Melanson, Co-Director of Programs about different aspects of Facilitating Organizational Change and what the panel will cover.
Does it seem to you as if every Blog, Tweet, ezine, business periodical, or corporate directive seems to emphasize the need to change? This can be bad or good news, it all depends on the reason(s) for the change, doesn’t it? Speaking of change, it’s been a tough year for many of us, hasn’t it? By now, are you getting tired of hearing bad news? Wouldn’t you like to hear some good news for a change? Better yet, how would you like to hear some good news about change for a change? Then join us for lunch on December 2 at a new temporary ASTD-SD meeting location, the Crown Plaza Hotel at 2270 Hotel Circle North, not far from our customary meeting place.
Why a new hotel? There is a reason for this change, the Handlery Hotel is undergoing major renovations so we will be meeting at the nearby Crown Plaza until further notice. Believe it or not, we actually picked the competency theme for this panel meeting on “Facilitating Organizational Change” many, many months ago. It was planned long before we were notified by the Handlery Hotel of the need to move the December meeting to a different location. Somehow, it seems fitting that we change locations for this particular topic, doesn’t it? Let’s model the flexing and other positive behaviors ourselves that we would like to see in others when we facilitate organizational change!
Several different kinds of San Diego organizations have some unique “Lessons Learned” and “Best Practices” to share about their recent experiences with change. We’ve assembled a diverse panel and a very stimulating moderator to explore this important topic as we end 2009 and get ready to being the new year ahead of us.
About the Three Panelists
Gilbert “Gil” Manzano started at ACI Specialty Benefits as the Director of Training and Development in 2007. As Director of T&D, Gil was primarily responsible for managing and developing a wide range of state-of-the-art training programs for ACI’s clients on a national and international level. He has been integral in developing organizational strategies designed to build ACI’s business. Gil is highly-skilled in conflict resolution, workplace safety, training, recruitment and change management. ACI Specialty Benefits is a global provider of employee assistance programs, wellness, work/life, crisis support and management consulting services to corporations worldwide. ACI Specialty Benefits continually ranks in the nation’s top ten EAPs by Business Insurance and was named a 2008 Benefits Superstar by Benefits Compensation Solutions Magazine. Founded in 1983, ACI has grown to international prominence, servicing nearly five million people worldwide with a network of over 40,000 providers. ACI remains a privately-owned specialty benefits corporation, headquartered in San Diego.
Now Gil is the Chief Administrative Officer of ACI! This change means that Gil is in charge of even more aspects of the ACI organization in addition to training and development. He is often referred to as the glue of the ACI organization. Highly skilled in the field of human resources and training and development, Gil understands the needs of today’s HR professionals and their employees. He has a diverse resumé of experience at organizations such as Banana Republic, Gap Inc.’s luxury brand, (where Gil was an Employment and Training Manager); EDS, an HP company; and Kimpton Hotel & Restaurant Group. All these experiences have given Gil the knowledge that employee issues do differ from industry to industry which helps when he is consulting ACI’s clients.
A California native, Gil studied Industrial and Organizational Psychology at San Jose State University. He is a DISC certified trainer and has spoken at the annual PHIRA conference and the California Worker’s Compensation Forum and Expo on wellness related topics. He stays connected to the San Diego business community through his involvement with the Society for Human Resource Management, National Human Resource Association, the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Greater San Diego Business Association.
Kurt Yerak is the Director of Culture and Employee Development with CareFusion, a San Diego based global organization of 13,000 employees focused on the delivery of products and services that improve patient care. CareFusion spun out from Fortune 20 giant Cardinal Health in September.
Kurt is a seasoned organizational, team and individual change specialist. He helps his internal clients improve business results in the areas of organizational change, teamwork and leadership development. For over 20 years, Kurt has worked for four Fortune 500 organizations in various HR leadership roles. He is a graduate of the Wharton School of Business with a degree in Economics and a Masters Degree from the Weatherhead School of Management at Case Western Reserve in Cleveland, Ohio where he focused on Emotional Intelligence, Appreciative Inquiry and Open Space Technology.
Cathy A. Zaitzow, M.S. is a Senior Training & OD Specialist with the Port of San Diego. The Port was created by the state Legislature in 1962 to manage San Diego Bay and surrounding waterfront land. The agency oversees the protection and development of the Bay. The Port is made up of Imperial Beach, National City, Chula Vista, San Diego and Coronado waterfront properties. It has more than 600 employees and 2007 revenues of $133.7 million.
Cathy’s expertise includes developing leaders, strengthening teams, and delivering training. Formerly a CPA, Cathy became convinced that people played the most significant role in any organization’s success. She decided she was in the wrong field, and decided to become a management consultant. She returned to school and got her Master’s degree in Organizational Psychology. Previously, Cathy has worked at General Dynamics, the City of San Diego, and Sharp Healthcare, as well as running her own consulting firm.
Introducing the Panel Moderator
Bonnie Burn is the founder and principal of DISC Provider LLC, a San Diego-based leadership and communications firm. As a professional business speaker and executive coach, Bonnie specializes in helping business leaders and other employees produce clear communications by utilizing a communications tool, the DISC, to effectively build and maintain highly successful teams as well as cultures that embraces change and creates proven paths for increasing sales and exceeding customers' expectations.
Bonnie started her career in marketing and sales and went on to become one of the national sales trainers, for ADVO, the world's largest direct mail company. She was then recruited by the competition, San Diego Union Tribune, a metropolitan newspaper and was charged to convert a failing direct mail program into a national leader. Once this was accomplished Bonnie started her leadership communications company, which has provided highly-interactive, results-oriented presentations to over 50,000 people, in a span of 15 years. A partial list of her high-profile clientele, covering private to public sector includes: Apple Inc., BAE Systems, Biosite, CalState Universities System-wide, Cobham, Cricket, Divx, Hitachi, Kleinfelder, LPL Financial, Qualcomm, Sanyo, San Diego Padres, Solar Turbines, Sempra Utilities, SAIC, SDSU, Sheraton Hotel, Time Warner, and USD.
Bonnie's extensive Communication and Leadership Credentials include: Certified Behavioral and Values Analyst from Target Training International (rated #1 international assessment center.) Her depth as a presenter is augmented by her additional certifications in Emotional Intelligence and the renown Situational Leadership Program. She is a nationally established Master DISC Trainer, who designed and empowers others through a two-day DISC Certification Program.
Listen to podcast with Bonnie Burns
Schedule:
Registration & Networking 11:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Chapter Meeting 11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
New Member Orientation 11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Members $30 / $40
Non-Members $40 / $50
Student Members $25 / $35
Early Bird Rate: Register by 11/29/09
Crowne Plaza Hotel
2270 Hotel Circle North
San Diego, CA 92108
(619) 297-1101
http://www.ichotelsgroup.com/h/d/cp/1/en/hotel/sancp/transportation?start=1
Driving Directions
North: Hwy 5 N to 8 El Centro (E) exit Hotel Circle/Taylor St. Take left at stoplight. Left at stop sign & left at light. Make a quick right on Hotel Circle N. Hotel is 1/4 mile up the street on left.
South: Hwy 5 S to 8 El Centro (E) exit Hotel Circle/Taylor St. East: Hwy 8 to Hotel Circle/Taylor Street exit & take right & another quick right. Hotel is 1/4 mile up the street on left.
West: Hwy 8 to Hotel Circle/Taylor St. Take left at stoplight. Left at stop sign & left at light. Make a quick right on Hotel Circle N. Hotel is 1/4 mile up the street on left.
